JO6375 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Hi everyone. I collected my 2 girls this afternoon and they seemed to like their run. Its freezing cold out and they're cuddled up asleep outside the eglu. Am I being an anxious mother in worrying that they'll freeze to death on their 1st night? I've tried food to tempt them but no joy ! Help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 shine a torch in the eglu through the egg port. they should follow the light into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 if your'e not sucessful, dont panic. They have feathers and will be ok. Some peoples chickens roost in trees sometimes (by accident) and they are ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 I would try and get them into the eglu if possible as its going to be very cold tonight. The torch trick usually works really well but if that fails either climb in and post them through the door or gently persuade them with a broom - i had to do this on my chooks first night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlickin Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 When I first got my hens four weeks ago was advised to put them straight into their house and shut the door for an hour or so, so they know where 'home' is, then let them out. This worked for me. If yours do stay out tonight I would put them in the house tomorrow and lock them in for a while til so they get used to it. Hope they go in by themselves anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 Have you got a small child you could send in? (although they should be in bed by now! ) They are very handy for getting to the end of eglu runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO6375 Posted October 20, 2007 Author Share Posted October 20, 2007 Thanks everyone. My 13 month old baby been asleep for hours and I've spent my precious evening fretting and outside every 2 mins. Barbara and margot now both tucked in for night - Margot a bit stubborn (or stupid!) but showed her the broom and she sauntered in ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 but showed her the broom and she sauntered in ! The broom????? Chicken rights violation at least! Helen in Hume who has just had to catch a chicken to get it to bed!!!! They hear me and come out of the cube again....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 the first couple of nights we had to 'herd' them in, which they complained about but the last few nights they've put themselves to bed and then we just close the door- they're so sweet when they file in as soon as it gets dark but at first, they were having none of it. You have to be firm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 but showed her the broom and she sauntered in ! I had to use the broom the first couple of night, then they got the hang of it. Welcome to the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolatedog Posted October 21, 2007 Share Posted October 21, 2007 We must have been very lucky with ours..... the very first night I remember being all stewed up at the thought of them not going to bed and how to get a torch back out again without them escaping etc etc.......so we waited until it was nearly dark then crept out into the garden with our hearts thumping...........not a chicken in sight - they'd just taken themselves in and were already in bed!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I had to put down an old towel and do a commando crawl through the run for the first few nights that we had our bantams. Then we had a breakthrough. We enticed Popcorn, the greedy lavender pekin who thinks she is human into the eglu and one of the others followed. I settled these with a few strokes and the others came hopping in. Things have been fine since.....touch wood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Mine put themselves to bed like little angels ... but when I crept up the garden to close the Eglu door, they would wake up and come out again! It's so annoying to carefully turn the handle ... and then hear a smug 'Bawk' from OUTSIDE the Eglu and realise that there's a chicken in the run! I gave up on closing the door, however now winter is approaching and they are nearer the house, I've started doing it again. To my relief they don't bother getting up now - maybe because they are a bit older and more staid, they were only teenagers in February after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Mine put themselves to bed like little angels ... but when I crept up the garden to close the Eglu door, they would wake up and come out again! It's so annoying to carefully turn the handle ... and then hear a smug 'Bawk' from OUTSIDE the Eglu and realise that there's a chicken in the run! That is why I abandoned closing the door. I might try again in the really cold weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted October 22, 2007 Share Posted October 22, 2007 I don't shut mine in during the summer (they get up earlier than I do and go to bed later) but around this time of year I do lock them up at night and DH lets them loose in the morning. Note to self - I must take the camera home and try to get a video of "Hen explosion". Helen in Hume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
